Page 38 of Fighting a Riot

Nora’s dry, non-plussed look almost made him laugh. “Believe me, I suggested the same damn thing and… we’ll just say my mom’s headstrong.”

“Okay. So, you’ve decided on a doctor, then?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“That’s good, right?” he asked.

Her chest rose with her deep breath. “I guess. Certainly makes things more real.”

He didn’t have a response to that and kept quiet.

The silence bordered on being uncomfortable. Then she squared her shoulders, the skirt of her blue dress swaying. “The other reason I came by is… because, well, I don’t know, maybe if it’s possible, um—”

“Just spit it out, Nora,” he said, grinning.

She swallowed and looked up at him. “If you don’t have to work tonight, would you mind giving me a ride on your bike?”

His head reared back and he stepped back she’d surprised him so bad. “You need a ride?”

She shook her head. “No, I’d like a ride on your bike.”

He leaned against the jamb. “You can’t get on my bike.”

Her brows drew together. “What do you mean? I did before.”

He eyed her up and down. That damn blue dress was even sexier up close. “Not wearing that you didn’t.”

She glanced down at her dress. “Oh. You have a point. I’ll go change.”

“Why?”

“Um, because you said—”

“No, why do you want a ride on my bike so bad?”

Her head tilted and she looked away for a beat. “Let’s just say, I enjoyed the short ride you gave me a couple weeks ago and… I’d like to do that again, just not quite as short.”

He crossed his arms. “I say that’s only a half-truth and nobody gets on my bike with me until I get the full truth.”

She put her hands on her hips, and his dick took notice. “I don’t see why it matters, but it’s been a pretty shitty week –hell, it’s been a shitty year so far– and being on your motorcycle was the first time I’d felt free and my mind wasn’t jumbled.”

He closed his eyes, fighting a supreme urge to kiss her. She’d all but said the same things he had the first time he’d taken a bike for a spin in his teens. For the first time, the muddled bullshit of life hadn’t overwhelmed him.

“I get it, you probably have to work,” she said, and he opened his eyes.

He straightened. “No, we’re taking a ride. Gotta put on my boots. You gotta put on some jeans and a long-sleeve shirt.” He paused and took in her wavy, auburn hair. “Tie that gorgeous mane up, too. You’ll be wearing a helmet, but I don’t want you fighting with your hair for an hour because it’s so tangled from the wind.”

“You’re sure it’s not a problem?”

“It’s not a problem,” he semi-lied. It could become a problem, but it was one of the few risks he was willing to take where she was concerned.

Chapter 7

We're Just Here for the Tacos

Yak

Yak leaned into the curve of the on-ramp to the interstate. Nora’s fingers gripped him tighter and even over the rumble of the pipes he heard her laugh. He caught a glimpse of her in his side mirror and the joy on her face made him smile.

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